Van Dijk bites back at ‘only Premier League’ Liverpool criticism

Will Ford
Liverpool Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk has hit back at critics who claim Liverpool will ‘only’ win the Premier League after their 2-0 defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have lost three of their last four games in all competitions but they still have a 22-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

Their progression in the Champions League is in doubt after a 1-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their last 16 clash.

But Van Dijk thinks it is impossible to say Liverpool’s season has been anything but glorious.

“Just end up with the Premier League? Yeah? Just? It’s just a small thing is it? We also won the Super Cup and the World Cup of [club] teams,” Van Dijk said.

“In life, there are people that are not always satisfied. They are always looking for negative things in life.

“That’s just the reality. Either you’re going to think about these things and go on with it and go on with that negative spirit, or you just focus on the good things, and I’m definitely focusing on the good things. We are in a very good situation.

“Close to what we all hope to achieve. Let’s just go for it, enjoy it. Tonight is a big blow but we were playing against a very good side. Let’s focus on ‘just’ the Premier League, because it’s very small, huh?”

 

 

Liverpool have waited 30 years to be crowned Premier League champions and missed out by just one point in their race with Manchester City last season.

Some have accused Liverpool of switching focus from other competitions to ensure they win the Premier League after such a long spell away from the top but Van Dijk insists that his side gave it all to beat Chelsea in the FA Cup.

“I think that’s stupid to say [Liverpool weren’t bothered about the cups], in my opinion,” he added. “Every competition we participate in, we want to win. We showed it tonight with the line-up and the way we kept going, the energy we put in.

“We tried to do as much as possible to win the game. My reaction is that I don’t like losing. The way we lost at the weekend was totally deserved. It was a very tough day for all of us. Today we made some changes but everyone who came in did brilliantly.

“The first goal was a mistake that shouldn’t happen. But we had a massive four chances in one moment to equalise I think. And then it’s a different game. We wanted to keep winning every game that was ahead of us. But we deserved to lose at the weekend.

“We all knew it. We all discussed it. We got over it easily, I think, because we spoke with each other and accepted we have to improve. Tonight was a much better performance but you lose so you’re out of the cup. That’s the reality.”

 

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